M.A.C Lipstick Lovers... You Don't Wanna Miss Out On These Dupes

With there being SO MANY different lipstick brands it can be hard to choose which one better suites you or better yet.... which better suites your coin! I say that because as you know, beauty products can run a bit pricey depending on your budget. 

Now I'm no big makeup fan at all, however I know some of you prefer the "known name brand" because we think their products may have a longer wear, or more pigmentation etc. and some do. However, did you know that some of the major cosmetic brands also own other brands making them the "parent company". This can be a major key as far as pricing because if you don't want to pay $17-30 for a lippie, maybe the parent company will have a dupe for a much lower price like $3.50-$7.99. Big difference right?! 

Example's:

Estee' Lauder owns: Clinique, Bobbi Brown, M.A.C, Tom Ford Beauty, Smash box and Tory Burch to name a few.

L'Oreal owns: Maybelline New York, Garnier, Lancome, Giorgio Armani, Ralph Lauren, The Body Shop, NYX, Urban Decay, Yves Saint Laurent (YSL) and more.

Louis Vuitton-Moet Hennessy (LVMH) owns: Dior, Givenchy, Make Up Forever, Sephora's namesake line, Kat Von D, Marc Jacobs and more.

Johnson & Johnson owns: Neutrogena, Aveeno, Clean & Clear, Lubriderm, Ambi and more.

With that being said, take a look below at some great, almost mirror dupes!

**SN: The colors on the pics below are not spot on but once you actually try the dupe out, it's pretty close to the major name brand.**

M.A.C "Fleshpot" VS NYX Butter Lipstick "Snow Cap"

M.A.C "Please Me" VS Jordan Modern Matte "Matte Tease"

M.A.C "Lavender Whip" VS "NYX Round Lipstick "Power"

M.A.C "So Chaud" VS Maybelline Matte "Craving Coral"

M.A.C "Lickable" VS Milani Color Statement "Flirty Fuchsia"

M.A.C "Dark Side" VS Revlon "Black Cherry"

M.A.C "Rebel" VS Milani Color Statement "Sangria"

M.A.C "Heroin" VS Milani Color Statement "Matte Glam"

M.A.C "Fast Play" VS Maybelline Matte "Touch of Spice"

M.A.C "Candy Yum Yum" VS Milani Color Statement "Matte Diva"

M.A.C "Morange" VS NYX High Voltage "Free Spirit"

Hope you guys enjoyed this list of M.A.C dupes!! As you can see it doesn't take you spending a whole bunch to look like you did! Your lipstick can be still be poppin without you poppin open the bank!!

As always... Thanks for reading my blog: TwithTally!!

Drink Up

Hey Guys,

We all know the importance of staying hydrated during these oh so hot and humid summer months, but water is not only essential to the body for hydration, it's great for overall health!

Check out this cool chart below showing how water improves our body!

Hope this information was useful and gave a little more insight on why we need to make drinking more water a priority in our daily routine!

Everyone doesn't like water, but everyone wants to be healthy so start slow....just make sure you start!

As always...Thanks for checking out my blog: TwithTally!

Natural Low Cost Homemade Beauty Treatments From The Comfort Of Your Home...

We all want to have beautiful skin, whiter teeth and healthy hair right? 

While reading up on some health tips, of course I had to share with you ladies and gents the info I found via http://specialsections.suntimes.com. Check them out below!


Skin (Facials & Scrubs):

Due to climate change, you may notice your skin to be a bit more dryer in the winter months and more oilier during the summer months. Whatever you experience, here are some face scrubs that may help!

Yogurt & Honey Mask

Mix 1-part plain yogurt and 1-part honey and apply to clean, moist face. Let it set for 10-15 minutes and rinse well with warm water. The mixture moisturizes, hydrates and soothes the skin. Honey can be used as a minor acne treatment.

Banana Facial Cream

Mash 1/2 of a ripe banana until creamy. Apply on face and leave for 15-20 minutes. Rinse with warm water and cold water to close pores. Pat dry.

Honey Oats Face Scrub

Combine 1 tablespoon honey, 1 tablespoon finely ground almonds, 2 tablespoons dry oatmeal and some lemon juice or yogurt to a luxurious and exfoliating facial scrub. Massage mixture gently onto face; then rinse with warm water. Use favorite moisturizer afterward.

Skin (Body Scrub/Exfoliant):

Everyone loves smooth skin right? Whether it's your legs, arms or feet...the smoother the better! Check out this homemade body scrub that exfoliates and smooths the skin!

Brown Sugar Lemony Body Scrub

This particular scrub has lemon, which works as a natural disinfectant. It will open up and cleanse clogged pores. The oils from the mixture will leave you with soft, healthy glowing skin.

1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup sea salt
2 tbsp coconut oil or olive oil
1 tbsp of honey
2 tbsp of freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 tbsp of your favorite essential oil (I recommend bergamot for energy, eucalyptus or spearmint for stress relief and lavender or jasmine for something more relaxing.) Mix all the ingredients in a bowl until it turns into a paste. Apply to moist skin in circular motion using your fingertips to help skin cells slough off faster. Rinse off with warm water. Apply your favorite moisturizer. Results: smooth, soft glowing skin.

Feet (Foot Soak/Scrub):

When it comes to your feet, don't wait until its summertime to tend to them. Whether in sandals or sneakers keep your feet smooth and pretty! I know some women feel during the winter months when their feet are covered, they tend not to want to pay money for a pedicure with the notion "nobody 's seeing them anyway, why waist the money". Well, here's a foot soak/scrub that will require little spending if any. You may just have these items on hand already. Check it out!

Milk Foot Soak

Add 4 cups of warmed whole milk, 2 tablespoons of Epsom Salt and 6 drops of your favorite essential oil such as lemon, sandalwood or lavender to warm foot bath. Soak for 20 minutes. Use the Brown Sugar Lemony Body Scrub to remove dead skin on feet.

Teeth Whitener:

Healthy teeth are VERY important. In fact, I think this beauty treatment/tip is the MOST important of them all. I say that because if you have unhealthy teeth that can led to various gum diseases that can be dangerous to your overall health. Believe it or not, teeth play a huge role in health.  Now the fun part is having not only healthy teeth, but white teeth also! Gotta keep your teeth right for those "selfies"-lol!! Now, getting white teeth can be a process depending on the person. There are several whitening methods over the counter or if you feel you may need a stronger whitener, talk to your dentist and he'll give you your best alternatives. The below method is a natural mixture that should help remove minor stains. 

Strawberry Bleach Mask

Celebrities, such as Catherine Zeta-Jones, swear by this. This natural mixture will remove any stains and discoloration on your teeth. Crush one ripe strawberry and mix 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda. Apply the mixture on teeth with toothbrush and let it set for 5 minutes; then brush with your regular toothpaste. Repeat once a week.

I hope you found these natural, low cost beauty/spa treatments interesting and are wiling to give them a try! Hey, I'm all for inexpensive spa treatments and I'm sure you are too! It never hurts to try right?

As always...Thanks for checking out my blog: TwithTally!!

DIY Dry Hair Conditioners....

Dry natural hair needs lots of moisture to prevent breakage and to maintain length. Regular use of deep conditioning treatments that provide protein to weakened spots on your hair shaft and moisturizing hair masks is mandatory for long, healthy natural hair. Most women prefer to buy their products, and natural hair care forums are full of product reviews and shared experiences with one product or another. Every product will work well for some people’s hair, but not every product is meant for everyone. Variables in hair texture, municipal water supplies, hormones, and even weather may produce an entirely different reaction to a product than someone else may have had.

If interested in keeping your hair hydrated and healthy, take a look at these simple DIY dry hair conditioner recipes!


Dry Hair Mask Egg Recipe:

Beat one to two egg yolks with 2-4 tablespoons of water and work through your hair. Leave on hair for no more than 15 minutes.

Dry Hair Mask Avocado and Egg Conditioner:

Peel avocado, remove seed and place in blender. Add 2 large egg yolks and blend well. Massage mixture into hair and scalp.

Dry Hair Yogurt Mask:

Combine one 8oz. container of organic full flat plain yogurt with one tablespoon of honey and one tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil. Use only organic plain yogurt as most others contain sugar compounds and preservatives. Your dry hair will benefit from the natural milk fats, so avoid nonfat or low fat yogurt when using as a conditioner for your hair.

Dry Hair Banana, Egg and Milk Hair Mask:

Blend together one ripened mashed banana, one egg yolk, 3 tablespoons of honey, 3 tablespoons of milk or cream and 5 tablespoons of argan oil, coconut oil or olive oil.

As you can see, you can easily and inexpensively make your own dry hair conditioners and mask from ingredients that replenish moisture and repair damage to the hair shaft like ripe avocados, ripe bananas, egg yolk, organic mayonnaise, yogurt and nourishing oils. You can whip up these dry conditioners and mask recipes in minutes. All of thee above are non-toxic, chemical free and leave no product residue behind to create further build up!

After applying the conditioner and or mask to your hair, be sure to cover your hair with a plastic cap and leave on for a minimum of 45 minutes (except the egg mask). Avoid using heated caps or hooded dryers. Using heat will then cook the product and leave you with cooked food in your hair. 

When done with the product, throw any remaining away. These DIY conditioners are all natural and contain no preservatives and therefore will go bad quickly. Once rinsed out, your hair should be left feeling soft, full of moisture, body and frizz free! You should notice a marked reduction in breakage after just one treatment. Do these natural dry hair treatments once or twice a week.

Hope you guys found these DIY dry hair recipes to be helpful. With the weather change it's important to not only keep your skin moisturized but your hair and scalp also.

*Remember that sealing oils help lock moisture into the hair strand, so always condition your hair FIRST, then follow up with a sealant. Otherwise you will seal your hair shaft and lock moisture out!  Some of the best oils for dry natural hair are Argan oil (better known as Moroccan oil), avocado oil, almond oil, olive oil and coconut oil if you don’t have allergies.

Until next time and as always...Thanks for checking out my blog: TwithTally!

Top 10 Health Benefits of Kale

Kale greens are my absolute fav type of green! I can eat them cooked down with smoked turkey, I can eat them sauteed with garlic and I also love making kale chips.

Kale is not only mmm-mmm good, but very healthy for you too! If you weren't aware of the benefits of kale, check them out below!

1. Kale is low in calorie, high in fiber and has zero fat. One cup of kale has only 36 calories, 5 grams of fiber and 0 grams of fat. It is great for aiding in digestion and elimination with its great fiber content. It’s also filled with so many nutrients, vitamins, folate and magnesium as well as those listed below.
2. Kale is high in iron. Per calorie, kale has more iron than beef. Iron is essential for good health, such as the formation of hemoglobin and enzymes, transporting oxygen to various parts of the body, cell growth, proper liver function and more.
3. Kale is high in Vitamin K. Eating a diet high in Vitamin K can help protect against various cancers. It is also necessary for a wide variety of bodily functions including normal bone health and the prevention of blood clotting. Also increased levels of vitamin K can help people suffering from Alzheimer’s disease.
4. Kale is filled with powerful antioxidants. Antioxidants, such as carotenoids and flavonoids help protect against various cancers.
5. Kale is a great anti-inflammatory food. One cup of kale is filled with 10% of the RDA of omega-3 fatty acids, which help, fight against arthritis, asthma and autoimmune disorders.
6. Kale is great for cardiovascular support. Eating more kale can help lower cholesterol levels.
7. Kale is high in Vitamin A. Vitamin A is great for your vision, your skin as well as helping to prevent lung and oral cavity cancers.
8. Kale is high in Vitamin C. This is very helpful for your immune system, your metabolism and your hydration.
9. Kale is high in calcium. Per calorie, kale has more calcium than milk, which aids in preventing bone loss, preventing osteoporosis and maintaining a healthy metabolism. Vitamin C is also helpful to maintain cartilage and joint flexibility.
10. Kale is a great detox food. Kale is filled with fiber and sulfur, both great for detoxifying your body and keeping your liver healthy.

Hope you guys found this info to be informative! As I said, I LOVE kale and will eat more of it just because of the benefits! It helps to know that something is not only yummy but also great for you!

Until next time and as always...Thanks for checking out my blog: TwithTally!

21 Tips to Release Self-Neglect & How to Love Yourself in Action!!

“To be beautiful means to be yourself. You don’t need to be accepted by others. You need to accept yourself.” ~Thich Nhat Hanh

The most important decision of your life, the one that will effect every other decision you make, is the commitment to love and accept yourself. It directly affects the quality of your relationships, your work, your free time, your faith, and your future.

Why then is this so difficult to do? It could be a number of things from your family of Origin, Cultural Influences and or your self-perception etc! Whatever the case may be, we all need to learn to love our self's more! if you or someone you know needs to release "Self-Neglect" and Love Yourself more then take a look at these 21 tips from Tinybuddha.com.

1. Begin your day with love (not technology). Remind yourself of your worthiness before getting out of bed. Breathe in love and breathe out love. Enfold yourself in light. Saturate your being in love with YOU.

2. Take time to mediate and journal. Spend time focusing inward daily. Begin with 5 minutes of mediatation and 5 minutes of journaling each morning. Gradually increase this time.

3. Talk yourself happy. Use affirmations to train your mind to become more positive. Put a wrist band on your right wrist. When you’re participating in self-abuse of any form, move the band to your left wrist.

4. Get emotionally honest. Let of go of numbing your feelings. Shopping, eating, and drinking are examples of avoiding discomfort, sadness, and pain. Mindfully breathe your way through your feelings and emotions.

5. Expand your interests. Try something new. Learn a language. Go places you’ve never been. Do things you haven’t done before. You have a right to an awesome life.

6. Enjoy life enhancing activities. Find exercise you like. Discover healthy foods that are good for you. Turn off technology for a day and spend time doing things that make you feel alive.

7. Become willing to surrender. Breathe, relax, and let go. You can never see the whole picture. You don’t know what anything is for. Stop fighting against yourself by thinking and desiring people and events in your life should be different. Your plan may be different from your soul’s intentions.

8. Work on personal and spiritual development. Be willing to surrender and grow. Life is a journey. We are here to learn and love on a deeper level. Take penguin steps and life becomes difficult. One step at a time is enough to proceed forward.

9. Own your potential. Love yourself enough to believe in the limitless opportunities available to you. Take action and create a beautiful life for yourself.

10. Be patient with yourself. Let go of urgency and fear. Relax and transform striving into thriving. Trust in yourself, do good work, and the Universe will reward you.

11. Live in appreciation. Train your mind to be grateful. Appreciate your talents, beauty, and brilliance. Love your imperfectly perfect self.

12. Be guided by your intuition. All answers come from within. Look for signs and pay attention to your gut feelings. You’ll hear two inner voices when you need to make a decision. The quiet voice is your higher self; the loud voice is your ego. Always go with the quieter voice.

13. Do what honors and respects you. Don’t participate in activities that bring you down. Don’t allow toxic people in your life. Love everyone, but be discerning on who you allow into your life.

14. Accept uncertainty. Suffering comes from living in the pain of the past or the fear of the future. Put your attention on the present moment and be at peace.

15. Forgive yourself. Learn from your mistakes and go forward. Use this affirmation, “I forgive myself for judging myself for __________ (fill in the blank i.e.: for getting sick, for acting out, for not doing your best.)

16. Discover the power of fun. Self-love requires time to relax, play, and create face-to-face interaction with others. Our fast-paced world creates a goal setting, competitive craziness that doesn’t leave room for play. Dr. Stuart Brow says, “The opposite of play isn’t work, it is depression.”

17. Be real. Speak up and speak out. Allow yourself to be seen, known, and heard. Get comfortable with intimacy (in-to-me-see).

18. Focus on the positive. Go to your heart and dwell on and praise yourself for what you get right in all areas.

19. Become aware of self neglect and rejection. Become conscious of your choices. Ask yourself several times throughout the day, “Does this choice honor me?”

20. Imagine what your life would look like if you believed in your worth. Dedicate your life to loving you. Make it your main event.

21. Seek professional help. Self-rejection and neglect is painful. You deserve to be happy. You have a right to be accepted and loved. If necessary, seek help from a support group, counselor, or coach. It’s the best investment you can make.

(My 2 cents) I personally thought the above tips were really great advice. So much that I think I'll apply a couple to my daily routine! I've always embraced ME! No matter my size, what I did or didn't have and regardless of what others may think! Not cocky just confident! I just feel that how you see yourself and how you treat yourself is how others will see and treat you as well!! Releasing "Self-Neglect" and Focusing on "Self-Love" is VERY important! Stop putting yourself down and start lifting yourself up! Give yourself compliments, don't wait for them! Love yourself with JOY! It's so worth it!!

           Until next time and as always...Thanks for checking out my                                                              blog: TwithTally!

11 Weird Celebrity Beauty Secrets!!!

We all have our beauty secrets and/or beauty routines that we like! I've shared a lot of tips in past post on health & beauty but thought this one was quite interesting to say the least! When researching new beauty tips for myself and also to share with you guys, I came across this interesting article via: Womenshealthmag.com. 

As the title reads: 11 Weird Celebrity Beauty Secrets- 

Check out these weird tips some celebrity's say they use and how it helps them out!!

1. Miranda Kerr uses lip balm as a shimmery highlighter around her eyes

EXPERT OPINION: Try it! "This will work, just stick to a natural product. A lip gloss will clog your pores and will also be pretty sticky," says New York based makeup artist Stefanie Syat. Dab some plain lip balm on the inner corners of your eyes. 

2. Catherine Zeta-Jones keeps her hair looking hot by dousing it in beer

EXPERT OPINION: Try it! "The alcohol removes any buildup that sits on the surface of the hair," says Amy Mrkurnic, a senior colorist at Oscar Blondi salon in New York. After you shampoo, towel dry, then massage a cupful or so of beer into your strands. Cover with plastic wrap for five minutes, then rinse. Any kind of brew is okay, so skip the pricey craft options and use up those mystery cans in the back of your fridge. 

3. Snooki swears by kitty litter to exfoliate

EXPERT OPINION: Skip it. The clumpy texture of the litter may remind you of a mud mask, but the clay particles are far larger than what you'd find in a substance formulated for skin. "These particles can cause micro scratches, which can lead to inflammation and blotchiness," explains Lezandra Berchik, an esthetician at Bliss Spa Los Angeles.

Not only that, but the moisture-sucking properties of the kitty litter—courtesy of the mineral silica—will have the same effect on your skin, leading to dehydration. As if that weren't enough to deter you, keep in mind that the "fresh scent" designed to mask any odors isn't exactly an aphrodisiac.

TRY THIS INSTEAD: Plain baking soda, either mixed with water or your favorite cleanser, will help clean out pores without any of the irritation.

4. Denise Richards puts avocado on her hair for deep conditioning results

EXPERT OPINION: Try it! "I do this one myself," says Mrkurnic. "To make it even more effective, combine the avocado with one tablespoon of olive oil." Slather onto your strands, but avoid the scalp itself—that'll make your hair look overly oily.

5. Jennifer Love Hewitt calms zits with toothpaste

EXPERT OPINION: Skip it. "We hear this 'trick' all the time, but it doesn't work. In fact, it can make a blemish worse," says Berchik. So why do people still try it? "Abrasives in the toothpaste, like calcium carbonate, will dry the blemish so it looks better. But it does nothing to rid it of bacteria, and the detergents and flavoring in the formula will irritate your skin."

TRY THIS INSTEAD: Stick to the tried-and-true treatments, says Berchik. "A product needs to contain either benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid to properly treat the blemish."

6. Lady Gaga uses tape to remove eye makeup

EXPERT OPINION: Try it—with caution. "Glitter can be especially hard to remove, so tape does the trick," says Syat. "Fabric tape will be the most gentle on your skin." But if your skin is super sensitive or prone to redness, avoid this option and stick with makeup remover.

7. Sienna Miller fixes hair color flaws with ketchup

EXPERT OPINION: Skip. When she accidentally used henna—a vibrant, all natural dye—on her blond strands, Miller said the only thing that got rid of the color was soaking her hair in ketchup, but colorists question this at-home remedy. "Henna is a stain, so it's not going away easily," says Mrkurnic. "I've never heard of this one."

TRY THIS INSTEAD: A color correction is best done in the salon, but if you're in a pinch and need the color out, stat, Mrkurnic recommends combining 90% rubbing alcohol with mineral oil. "Make a three to one ratio of the alcohol with the mineral oil, mix together, and massage through your hair. Then, wrap your hair in plastic and apply heat for 10 minutes to fade any color."

 

8. Lisa Rinna uses cinnamon oil for a plumped-up pout

EXPERT OPINION: Try it—with caution. "Adding a few drops of cinnamon oil to a lip gloss will give some added oomph," says Patrice Evangeline, a New York City based makeup artist. But the trick won't make your lips puff up to Angeline Jolie proportions, and makeup artists warn to spot check the oil against a patch of skin first to make sure you don't have any adverse effect.

9. Teri Hatcher adds red wine to the bath to soften her skin

EXPERT OPINION: Skip it. "Red wine in the tub could work because wine contains tartaric acid, an alpha hydroxyl agent that can exfoliate," says Berchik. But don't raise a glass yet. Berchik warns that it would take a few bottles to notice an effect and the wine could irritate any minor scratches on the skin.

10. Miranda Kerr uses a spoon instead of an eyelash curler for a wide-eyed look

EXPERT OPINION: Try it! "For best results, run the spoon under hot water or give it a quick blast of the blow dryer," suggests Evangeline. "With the bowl-part facing upward, use your thumb to hold your lashes against the curve and turn upward."

11. January Jones bounced back from pregnancy partially because she took supplements made from her own placenta

EXPERT OPINION: Skip it. "There have been no scientifically demonstrated benefits of placenta ingestion for humans," says Mark Kristal, PH.D., professor of psychology at the University of Buffalo, whose research has focused on placenta ingestion. So why do so many new moms insist that it has healing powers? "Placenta ingestion has been shown to benefit nonhuman mammals," explains Kristal. "But the fact that no human cultures, past or present, routinely engage in this practice suggest that evolutionary-wise, there may have been something detrimental to ingesting placenta." 

                                         

Now, out of the 11 tips I think 3 were really "weird" for me anyway. What 3 do you think I'm referencing? If you thought #3, #6 and #7 then you were absolutely right! With #3 coming in at #1 for the weirdest! I've NEVER heard of someone using or even thinking of using cat litter to exfoliate! Have you? Is it just me? I know I've said "don't knock it til you try it" but don't think I'll be able to add that one to the list! If you try it or any of these weird beauty tips, come back and let me know!

Until next time and as always...Thanks for checking out my blog: TwithTally!